Post by Albert Wendell on Aug 28, 2015 19:47:09 GMT

I watched this the third of three episodes from my WH Smith video tape that I decided to view and review over three consecutive Fridays (see my Get Daley & A Well Fashioned Fit Up reviews for the other two).

When we first meet Clive he’s seems a friendly enough chap and the viewer is given the impression he is one of the good guys however it soon transpires that he may be hiding something, as the story unravels we discover he is a bigamist five times over. It’s an unusual topic to choose for a central plot but one that works well. Others have mentioned (on other posts) Jones’ great line to Angie perfectly delivered by Meic Povey and it always makes me laugh even though I know what he‘s going to say. You can’t help feeling sorry for Angie as her first husband was a gambling drunk and she then finds out her new husband is a bigamist. The scene between Arthur and Angie is very well acted on both parts and really captures the reality of two people who don’t know each other forced to make small talk in stressful and awkward circumstances.

For fans of Arnie this must be his best appearance. It’s great when he turns up in the recovery truck and instead of apologising or explaining he’s just keen to show Arthur what he’s bought. I must also make a mention of Roland he’s only in two short scenes but the idea of Arthur bunging a fleet manger to mess up a car so he can get it cheap is wonderful, that car park must have been used for fleet parking as it has various MKIV & MKV Cortinas plus two Sierras there so top marks to the location manger as these little things all go to add to the authenticity of the show.

From a filming point of view the scene in the car when Terry, Arthur and Clive are returning from the health club looks to be shot just as its getting dark there’s a very bright sun set they are driving into, I don’t recall many Minders being shot at this time of day (early evening) perhaps they were running late that day and had to work on.

The ‘B’ word is used frequently throughout this episode which is fairly unusual as the swearing was toned down after the second series. I can only imagine that the ITV4 repeats are heavily edited due to this (another reason to purchase the DVDs).

Its been discussed before that many actors who have appeared in Minder have reached the age of ninety and above Una Brandon -Jones who appeared as Old Lady lived until she was 93.

A small blooper is made in the order of the marriages Mary suggests she has been married to Clive for nine years (in the Winchester) and Jones tells Chisholm that Mavis has been married to Clive since 1977 however when the wives meet Mavis tells Mary shes been married to Clive longer than her.

Overall a neat idea for an episode with some laughs and lots to hold the viewers attention.

Post by gustav on Aug 31, 2015 9:22:11 GMT

Post by Agnes Magnus on Sept 3, 2015 22:14:32 GMT

The usual curious editing on ITV4 the other week.They cut out the "B" word when Kate Williams' character has a go at Clive in the Winchester and yet it stays in when Terry and one of the wives are discussing the legitimacy of the boy!

Post by Agnes Magnus on Sept 4, 2015 9:42:21 GMT

It would be sensible for the cuts to be made at the beginning or end of a scene because the ones halfway through stick out like sore thumbs i.e. "Clive Cosgrove you" (SNIP!) As you say, gustav, they're inconsistent to say the least.Amongst the famous faces on show in this episode, it's good to see Sue Holderness, soon to be cast as Marlene, the often talked about wife of Boycie in OFAH and Gary Holton between the two Auf Pet series he appeared in.Hilarious moments include Arnie's 1984 jacket, the punch he takes when caught lifting that rust-bucket of a car and both scenes featuring the Health Club chap on the search for 'new members' (great reaction from Cosgrove/Mower to rebuff him)

Post by jno on Sept 4, 2015 11:38:06 GMT

Cuts - this is why we have DVDs. As far as I am concerned Minder on ITV4 is not Minder, just an shorter interpretation of it to grab viewers. Nice it's on, but not the way it was meant to be enjoyed in full, hence it ain't Minder to me.

Meanwhile back on the topic of the episode, the wedding of course takes place at Chiswick Town Hall on Heathfield Terrace, a location that features in all three genres of Minder.

---> Visit the number 1 Minder site on the web: www.minder.org---> or on YouTube: minderDOTorg

Daley & McCann are, as good as, holding hands, on the exercise yard, in the scrubs.

Post by gustav on Sept 4, 2015 14:45:29 GMT

You are right jno but I have to confess that it is repeats on various channels that gets me into watching old series again. The cuts and clumsy editing is infuriating but despite that I do enjoying seeing them again.

Post by ltd on Sept 4, 2015 20:05:36 GMT

Amongst the famous faces on show in this episode, it's good to see Sue Holderness, soon to be cast as Marlene, the often talked about wife of Boycie in OFAH and Gary Holton between the two Auf Pet series he appeared in.

Also interesting to see Michael Attwell in a small role as the ex who turns up at the wedding. He played Eddie in Turtle's Progress, so it's sort of a clash of the Minders when him and Terry get into it. Sadly inconclusive though.

Post by jno on Jan 27, 2017 7:14:01 GMT

I'm surprised we got as far as season 5 before we got an episode featuring Patrick Mower

Perhaps he was busy with other commitments or keeping a low profile after Target !

According to his IMDb record, since Target Patrick Mower has also been in an episode of 'Bergerac', 'Tales of The Unexpected', 'Strangers' and the 1984 film 'California Cowboys' alongside Timothy Van Patten of 'The Master'. What I have wondered about is what he did between 1984 and 1997 - he seems to have been in the theatre a bit during this period.

---> Visit the number 1 Minder site on the web: www.minder.org---> or on YouTube: minderDOTorg

Daley & McCann are, as good as, holding hands, on the exercise yard, in the scrubs.

Post by Zimbo on Jan 27, 2017 8:43:38 GMT

It always puzzles me about that gap. It's a very long time without any TV work for someone who'd been so prolific. That's made me think that we should start a thread on actors who just disappeared, such as Stanley Meadows who has no credits after his Minder appearance. He was only in his mid 50s very early to retire from acting.

Post by Zimbo on May 17, 2017 22:42:03 GMT

It really is a superb episode. Patrick Mower, who seems to be a bit of a marmite man, is well cast as Confident Clive. Mower was to make one more appearance on TV before mysteriously disappearing from screens for 13 years. Ray Winstone gives another good comedy performance as Arnie, only appearing on the end credits this time. Chisholm was brilliantly bemused by Clive's antics and the scene of the wives chasing Clive at the end is good. Gary Holton becomes the third of four of the Auf Wiedersehen, Per to appear in Minder. As ever, George and Dennis are on top form

Post by westldner on Aug 2, 2018 19:16:23 GMT

Takes a while for the episode to pick up, no problem with that but I had to give it a few re-watches to fully understand what was going on. Still was a good episode. Got silly towards the end, I liked it.

Post by ace5150 on Oct 30, 2018 19:28:47 GMT

Watched today, not seen since it's first transmission.Marlene Boyce, Wayne from AWP, Kate Williams from Love Thy Neighbour.Brilliant episode.Jones line of "has a habit of getting them up the duff" is so funny.Out of the wives, Angie for me (got to say that as its Mrs Aces name)All on fine form, Minder at its best.Loved the newsagent in the background with Clive and Terry unloading the Capri, with the JPS signage. Never smoked, but the gold lettering on gloss black ALWAYS looked great.10/10 from me.

Post by leaveitoutjohn on Dec 16, 2018 3:28:33 GMT

Spotted a little blooper.In the scene in the Winchester where Chisholm shouts oy to Arnie and Terry,Arnie is wearing a white jumper but in the next scene where they are coming out of the police station he is wearing blue overalls